With Apps And New Tech, Is Bjork’s Biophilia The First iAlbum?
So, Bjork’s highly anticipated new multimedia album, Biophilia, is out this week after being pushed back from its original September 27 release date.
Can I be honest about something? I find the whole thing really, really intimidating! I mean it’s got iPad apps, custom-designed instruments, two-month concert residencies, science and music classes for kids. Oh, and an album.
It’s all just a little overwhelming.
So it’s a relief to find out the album itself can stand on its own. For all the bells and whistles associated with its release and promotion, Biophilia is pretty much just another Bjork album.
I don’t mean that to sound dismissive. A Bjork album is usually a lovely thing to hear—in a left-of-center kind of way—and Biophilia delivers on the singer’s familiar territory: beats and electronic distortion interlaced with ethereal embellishments like harps, strings, music boxes, and Bjork’s distinctive elasticized wail.
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I’ve loved Bjork for several years now, and what I’ve listened to of the album thus far hasn’t wowed me like she used to. Then again, I find myself thinking that she’s wowing me in much more subtle ways, and I just have to quiet myself enough to recognize it. Regardless of what I think of this latest effort from her, I can already guarantee that I will be buying a ticket to her next LA concert, dragging my boyfriend with, and having an amazing time. Bjork has yet to run out of ways to make me appreciate her.
P.S: “Crystalline” is weird and fantastic and I love it.
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It’s the first of its kind, for sure, but, please, don’t mess calling it an iAlbum.
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I enjoyed Sir David Attenborough’s intro much more then Bjork’s god awful squawking.
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The first iAlbum was The Gorillaz album called FALL. Damon Albarn recorded the album during Gorillaz Fall tour of America during his downtime and using his generation one iPad for the majority of the instruments. Gorillaz gave it to their fan club as a Xmas present and it was released to the public in the Spring. Not my favorite Gorillaz album(That’s still Demon Days) but it has some interesting moments.
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I do not get her appeal. The way the album came out was fun, exciting and extremely creative, but, what the hell is the appeal to her music? It sounds awful! The chords clash and her voice is harsh. Can someone explain this to me?
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I think this is the best album Björk has ever made.
It has amazing melodies, the diversity of sounds her voice can achieve, the notion of imperfect music that becomes perfect by its soul.
Björk is one of those artist that you love or you hate, and that’s totally fair. But not understanding that art is diverse and not only a representation of beauty but a reproduction of society really makes me sad.
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The app is totally awesome, btw.